Hospitals hunt substitutes as drug shortages rise

"Some experts pointedly note that pricier brand-name drugs seldom are in short supply."

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer
23 mins ago

WASHINGTON – A growing shortage of medications for a host of illnesses — from cancer to cystic fibrosis to cardiac arrest — has hospitals scrambling for substitutes to avoid patient harm, and sometimes even delaying treatment.

"It's just a matter of time now before we call for a drug that we need to save a patient's life and we find out there isn't any," says Dr. Eric Lavonas of the American College of Emergency Physicians.